Journal article
Diagnostic value of pleural fluid obtained from a chest tube collection system
Lung, Vol.193(1), pp.141-146
02/2015
DOI: 10.1007/s00408-014-9666-6
PMID: 25394673
Abstract
Pleural fluid is typically drawn directly from the pleural space for diagnostic studies, but occasionally analyses are desired when a chest tube is already in place and a traditional approach is not feasible. The diagnostic value of analyzing fluid samples obtained from the pleural fluid collection system after chest tube insertion is unknown.
We performed a prospective observational study of patients in whom chest tube placement was planned for clinical indications. Diagnostic studies were performed on fluid obtained from the pleural space at the time of tube insertion and then repeated 2, 6, and 24 h later on samples obtained from the fluid collection system.
Fifty-five percent of the 23 effusions studied met light's criteria for exudate at baseline. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) varied considerably over time from baseline measures with only 25 % of measures at 24 h falling within 25 % of baseline levels. The sensitivity for exudate by LDH remained 100 % with poor specificity ranging 50-69 % with repeat measures. Total protein exhibited less variability with 85 % of measures at 24 h falling within 25 % of baseline measure. Sensitivity and specificity at 24 h were 88 and 82 %, respectively. Repeat measures of cholesterol, albumin, and triglycerides generally correlated well (Spearman's rho > 0.90) with baseline values. Measures of glucose and cell counts varied considerably from baseline.
Analysis of pleural fluid from a chest tube collection system is feasible and can provide useful diagnostic information. Practitioners should consider the test characteristics of each measure when interpreting samples obtained.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Diagnostic value of pleural fluid obtained from a chest tube collection system
- Creators
- Robert M Reed - Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 110 South Paca Street, 2nd Floor, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA, rreed@medicine.umaryland.eduMichael EberleinGiora NetzerEdward PickeringCarl ShanholtzAvelino C VercelesMichael T McCurdy
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Lung, Vol.193(1), pp.141-146
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00408-014-9666-6
- PMID
- 25394673
- ISSN
- 0341-2040
- eISSN
- 1432-1750
- Grant note
- 5K12RR023250-03 / NCRR NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 02/2015
- Academic Unit
- Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984094337802771
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